Moistening device.



A. H. LINAWEAVBR.

MOISTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1911.

(June/M201 AZZYK/ZZZZL zkwm eawi fl H'cvcuua Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

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A. H. LINAWEAVER. MOISTENING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED r1112. 15, 1911.

1,008,973. Patented N0v,14,1911.

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COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH C0..WASHINOTON, D. c.

A. H. LINAWEAVER.

MOISTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1911.

1,008,973, Patented NOV. 14, 1911.

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are.

MOISTENING- DEVICE.

handling and counting currency, paper and for other purposes.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and improved device of this character which shall be absolutely clean and sanitary, which may be easily cleansed and, washed when desired and which shall be thoroughly simple in con struction and eflicient in operation.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the moistening cylinder in perspective taken at right angles to Fig. 2 on the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a perspective detail view of the device for holding envelop flaps in engagement with the moistening cylinder detached. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the moistening device as it appears when the envelop engaging device has been removed. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of the device with the envelop flap holder raised to an inoperative position. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view illustrating a form of the invention. Fig. 8 is a perspective detail view showing the device for holding envelop flaps in engage- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 14, 1911 Application filed February 15, 1911.

Serial No. 608,766.

ment with the moistening cylinder detached.

, Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 99 in Fig. 7.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The improved device in its most simple and preferred form'comprises a drum or cylinder 1 which is supported for rotation upon a receptacle 2 in such a manner as to be partly immersed. The drum or cylinder is made of ample dimensions to provide a moistening surface of suflicient area to be practically useful, and said cylinder should, therefore, be of a diameter of not less than approximately three inches. The drum or cylinder is provided with axially disposed bosses 3 which are reduced to form trunnions 4 that are supported in bearings 5 upon the upper edge of the liquid receptacle from which said drum or cylinder may be readily removed when desired by simply lifting it from the bearings 5. The receptacle 2, which is preferably made of a semi circular contour to correspond with the shape of the cylinder, is provided with a supporting standard 6 having a foot or enlargement 7 which is provided in the underside thereof with a threaded socket 8, whereby the device may be mounted upon a supporting bracket 9.

It will be observed that when the drum or cylinder is in position for operation upon the receptable 2, the ends of the cylinder are spaced from the side walls of the receptacle by the bosses or enlargements 3, the ends of which present shoulders that abut upon the inner face of the side walls of the receptacle.

When the device is to be utilized for moistening the flaps of envelops, I provide in connection therewith a holding device comprising a plate 10 of approximately semi-circular shape adapted to fit within the receptacle 2 between one of the side walls of the latter and one end of the drum or cylinder, said plate having an aperture 11 engaging the boss 3 at one end of the cylinder. The plate 10 is provided -with lugs or extensions 12 adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the receptacle 2 at the ends of the latter, thereby holding the plate securely against rotation. Hingedly connected with the upper edge of the plate is a holding member B which is approximately L-shaped comprising an upwardly extending vertical arm l t and a laterally extending horizontal arm 15, the latter extending adjacent to the upper side of the cylinder lengthwise of the latter, and said horizontal arm being curved or arcuate in cross section, so as to present a concavity or groove 16 in an upward direction, while the underside of said arcuate arm will be adapted to contact with the face of the cylinder longitudinally of the latter. This holding member, when not required for present use, may be moved out of the way to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, or the entire device including the plate 10 and the holding member B may be removed, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 5.

The parts or members of the improved moistening device may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, hard rubber, celluloid, glass or porcelain or of a combination of such materials, it being understood that when metal is used it may be plated, galvanized, enameled or otherwise protected against corrosion. The surfaces of the several parts or members are absolutely smooth, hard and non-porous and may, therefore, be easily kept in a perfectly clean and sanitary condition, being in this respect essentially different from devices of this class which are provided with porous or absorbing surfaces, or in which materials such as sponge, blotting paper, teXtile material or the like is used to retain moisture. The trunnion at one end of the cylinder is preferably provided with an enlarged head 17 having a cross bar 18 constituting a handle whereby the drum or cylinder may be conveniently rotated, but it will be understood that in the actual use of the device for moistening postage stamps, gummed labels and the like, the pressure or impact of the thumb or finger in moistening each stamp or label will impart a slight degree of rotation to the said drum or cylinder which will be effective in supplyin suflicient moisture to the exposed part of the cylinder from the liquid which has been previously placed in the cylinder and in which a portion of said cylinder is immersed. Should the water creep upon the surface of the drum or cylinder, the latter may be easily cleansed with a suitable wash applied with a small piece of raw cotton, textile material or the like.

When the device is to be used merely for moistening the fingers, as in banks, preparatory to counting and handling currency, for the purpose of counting sheets of paper or feeding the same to printing presses, or for any other similar purpose, the attachment including the plate 10 and the holding member B may be entirely detached, as shown in Fig. 5. The device as thus represented may also be usefully employed for the purpose of moistening postage stamps, gummed labels or the like.

When the device is to be used for moistening the gummed flaps of envelops, the holding attachment is placed in position, as shown in Figs. 1, :2 and 3. By slightly lifting the arm 15, the flap of the envelop may be placed between said arm and the cylinder, after which the arm 15 is pressed down with one hand, while with the other hand the flap of the envelop is drawn between the cylinder and the holding arm, thereby moistening the gum, as will be readily understood.

Vhile the improved device is primarily intended and adapted to be used as a moistening device, it will be understood that by placing adhesive liquid in the receptacle 2 instead of plain water, the device may be used for applying such liquid to labels and the like for present use, making the device convenient for the use of druggists and others who frequently use ungummed labels for various purposes.

In Figs. 7 8 and 9 of the drawings there has been illustrated a modified construction of the invention, presenting features which may sometimes be found preferable over the construction illustrated in Figs. 1- to 6, inclusive. The plate 10, as shown PELI'fiCIL larly in Figs. 3, L and 6, is approximately semicircular and reaches to the bottom of the receptacle 2. "When this is the case, water will sometimes creep between the opposed faces of said plate and the wall of the receptacle, and to avoid this the holding plate shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, where said plate is designated 10, is made of smaller dimensions so that it will not reach to the bottom of the receptacle. Then this form of plate is used, however, it becomes desirable to provide the said holding plate with laterally extending hookshaped catches, as shown at 20, said catches being adapted to engage the upper edge of the side wall of the receptacle for the purpose of holding the plate 10 securely in position for operation. Under the modified construction it is also preferred to provide the upper end of the plate 10 with a shoulder or offset 21 with the outer edge of which the vertical arm, here designated 15,,of the holding member, here designated B, is hingedly connected, thereby spacing the said arm 14 laterally from the drum or cylinder. WVhen the flaps of envelops are to be moistened, the space between the end of the drum or cylinder and the ofiset arm 14 will accommodate the extreme edge of the flap, thereby preventing liability of the latter being torn.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the horizontal arm, here designated 15, of the holding member B is shown as supporting upon the underside thereof a cylindrical roller 22 which may be constructed either wholly or in part of rubber or other suitable material. When the flap of an envelop is to be moistened it may be drawn between the drum or cylinder 1 and the roller 22, and suflicient pressure may be exerted upon said roller without the least danger of mutilating 'the flap. It is obvious that this advantage applies equally to any material that may be drawn between the drum 1 and the roller 22 for the purpose of moistening the same.

The improved device, as will be seen from the foregoing description, is simple in construction and capable of being usefully employed for a variety of purposes. When used upon a desk for moistening stamps, envelop flaps and the like, it also forms a convenient paper weight.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a moistening device, a liquid receptacle having bearings at the upper edges thereof, a cylindrical drum having axial trunnions and bosses forming shoulders adjacent thereto, said trunnions being supported upon the bearings, a perforated plate engaging the boss at one end of the drum and having extending lugs engaging the upper edge of the receptacle at the ends of the latter, and a holding member hingedly connected with said plate, said holding member including an arm extending adjacent to the drum above and longitudinally of the latter.

2. In a moistening device, a liquid receptacle having bearings at the upper edge thereof, a cylindrical drum having axial trunnions and bosses forming shoulders adjacent thereto, said trunnions being supported upon the bearings, a perforated plate engaging the boss at one end of the shoulder and having supporting members engaging the upper edge of the receptacle at the ends and at one side of the latter, said plate having a lateral oifset at its upper edge, and a holding member hingedly connected with said offset, said holding member including a vertical arm which is spaced by said offset from the end of the drum or cylinder.

3. In a moistening device, a receptacle, a drum supported for rotation upon said receptacle and having longitudinal members, a plate having an aperture engaging a ournal member of the cylinder, and a holding member hingedly connected with said plate and including a roller adapted to lie adjacent to the face of the cylinder.

4:. In a moistening device, a receptacle having bearings, a drum supported for rota tion and having journal members engaging the bearings, a plate having an aperture engaging one of the journal members of the cylinder, said plate being provided with members engaging the receptacle to hold it against rotation, and a holding member hingedly connected with the plate and including an arm adapted to be supported in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the cylinder.

5. In a moistening device, a receptacle having bearings, a drum supported for rotation and having journal members engaging the bearings, a plate having an aperture engaging one of the journal members of the cylinder, said plate being provided with members engaging the receptacle to hold it against rotation, a holding member hingedly connected with the plate and including an arm adapted to be supported in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the cylinder, and a cylinder engaging roller supported for rotation upon said arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT H. LINAWEAVER.

Witnesses:

J. W. FRANKS, J. D. BARNETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

